Portable switch for railroads



' C. W. BURRIS PORTABLE SWITCH FOR RAILROADS Filed Oct. 9

Patented Dec. 25, 122E.

CHARLES VI. BURRIS, OF EAPSGN, COLORADO.

PORTABLE SWITCH FOR EAILROADS.

Application filed tlctober 9, 1822.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES l BURRIS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rapson, in the county of Las Animas, State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Switches for Railroads; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient portable switch for railroads, including trolley lines, trams for mines and the like.

Briefly the invention comprises a switch section having a pair of curved primary rails and a straight auxiliary rail which is adapted to be anchored to one of the main line rails and with which the curved rails are firmly connected. The ends of the curved rails which cooperate with the rails of the main line are movably connected with the body portions of the curved rails in order that said ends may be switched to allow main line traific to clear the portable switch. Spring means may be employed for returning said ends to operative position if desired.

In the accompanying drawings wherein certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed by way of illustration,

Fig. .1 is a plan view showing the portable switch in operative position;

Fig. 2 is an elevational detail taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; this view shows a curved rail joint;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is an elevational detail of one of the curved-rail joints and is taken from line H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional detail of the joint of Fig. 4 and is taken on line 55 of Fig. 4:;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional details taken on the lines 66, 77 and 88 respectively of Fig. 1.

The drawings disclose in dotted lines the rails 10 and ties 12 of the ordinary main line railroad track. lhe switch of the pres ent invention comprises a pair of curved primary rails 1 1 and 15,-the rail 15 being cut out at 16 where it crosses the respective main line rail 10 and also to partially over- Serial No. 593,288.

hang the auxiliary straight rail 32 (Figs. 1 and 8) to be described.

The inner ends 11 1 and 115- of curved rails 14 and 15, which lie adjacent the main line rails, are formed for cooperative relation with the main line rails and are adapted to be shifted therefrom to pass main line trafiic. End 115 is tapered off at 18 to engage the side of the respective main line rail 10, and a joint is provided at 20 between this end and its primary rail 15. Joint 20 is formed through the medium of springs 22 connecting the sides of these rail portions, and said springs permit said end 115 to'be withdrawn from engagement with its rail 10 through a switch rod or bar 24 pivoted to the under side of the rail end and passing beneath the other rails to one side of the track. The otner rail end 114 has an overhanging flattened portion 26 adapted to rest upon the top of the adjacent rail 10. Said end 11 1 is pivoted at 25 to the primary section 14; and is connected through the medium of a suitable clip or tie 28 with the switch bar 2 1. 'lhus when bar 2% is pulled laterally to shift end 115 from the side of its rail 10, the flattened portion 26 of end 114 is withdrawn from the top of its rail 10 and into position upon the top of an auxiliary straight rail 32 secured to the side of the last mentioned rail 10. In this manner the main line is cleared for main line trai'fic. If desired, the springs 22. at joint 20 may be relied upon to return the parts to operative position.

The auxiliary rail32 serves as an anchor for the rail sections 14; and 15, and is itself secured to the adjacent rail 10 by means of ties 3% which have backwardly bent lips 35 5 to engage over the base'of said rail 10 and upturned lips 36 between which and the web of the rail 32 wedges of Wood or the like are driven as indicated at 38 to maintain the op erative relation of the parts. The rail sec tions 1e and 11 1 are anchored to the rail 32 by means of a clip 40 adjacent or at the joint 25, the pivoting pin of the joint being employed therefor if desired. Similarly the outer portion of curved rail 15 is secured to rail 32 by a clip 42. In use the inner section of the rail 15 which is on the inner side of the cut-out 16 is properly spaced from the ties 12 and is secured to said ties 12 through the medium of spacer-plates 441 and rail spikes 15, the thickness of plates e4; being graduated so as to elevate the flanges of wheels passing over rails 14 and 15 sufiiciently to clear the adjacent rail 10. The outer end, of rail 15 and the rail i l are blocked up accordingly in any desired manner. The flattened portion 26 of rail l i-tapers upward sufhciently to cause the wheel flanges to clear rails 10 and 32. in addition the rails 14: and 15 are bound to each other by means of connecting bars 50, one end of each of which has an upturned lip 52 between which and the rail 15 a wedge is driven to bind the rail against an adjustable stop 55 on the other side of the rail, wooden wedges 5a being preferably used for this purpose. At the opposite end of each bar 50 an upturned lip 56 is provided and a wooden wedge 57 is driven between the lip '56 and the rail 14 to bind the latter against a stop 58 on the bar 50. Preferably the bars 50 also carry a guard 60 alongside the rail'l l for engagement by the flanges of the wheels to insure retention of the wheels on the rails 14k and 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I V have provided a simple portable switch which may be easily moved and installed, will be safe and secure, and may be easily shifted to clear the main line. The switch is particularly valuable in mines where a great many of the switches are only temporary, being used in each place only a short time and then moved. The switch can be laid quickly by an inexperienced man without disturbing the main track or cutting or bending rails.

I claim:

1. A portable switch comprising a pair of rails adapted to be anchored to a main line, the ends of the rails being movable with respect to said rails, one of said ends being adapted to be moved to and from engagement with the, side of the respective main line rail, and the other end being adapted to rest upon the top of its main line rail and adapted to be moved laterally therefrom and means for positively moving said two ends in unison.

2. A portable switch comprising a pair of rails adapted to be anchored to a main line, one of said rails being cut out to lie on opposite sides-of a main line rail, the inner ends of the rails being adapted to engage navaesa with main line rails, and means for grad-..

uaily elevating the rails of the switch as they extendoutward for clearance of wheel flanges over the respective main line rail.

3. A portable switch comprising an auxiliary rail adapted to be secured to a main line rail, a pair of primary switch rails secured to the auxiliary rail, and means for elevating one of the switch rails to cause wheel flanges to clear a mainline rail.

4. A portable switch comprising an auxiliary rail adapted to be secured to. a main line rail, and a pair of primary switch rails secured to the auxiliary rail.

5. A portable switch comprising an auxiliary rail adapted tobe secured to a main line rail, a pair of primary switch rails securedto the auxiliary rail, one of said switch rails being cut out to lie on opposite sides of a main line rail, and means adapted to be mounted upon ties oi the main line for gradually elevating the inner switch rail to cause wheel flanges to clear the respective main line rail.

6. A portable switch comprising an-auxiliary rail adapted to be secured to a main line rail, a pair of primary switch rails secured to the auxiliary rail, the ends of the switch rails being adapted to be placed in cooperative relation with main line rails, and connecting bars for tying the switch rails together. I

7. A portable switch comprising an auxih iary rail adapted to be secured to a main line rail, a pair of primary switch rails secured to the auxiliary rail, connecting bars engaging the switch rails to tie the same together, and wedges binding the bars to said rails. 7 V

8. Aportable switch comprising an auxiliary rail adapted to be secured to a main line rail, a pair of primary switch railsse-.-

cured to the auxiliary rail and having their ends movable with respect thereto and with respect to the main line rails, one of said movable ends being adapted to rest, upon the top of a main line rail and to be moved laterally therefrom to rest upon the top of said auxiliary rail.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES W. BURRIS. 

